Report: Auburn paid players, altered grades during Chizik’s tenure

A report filed by former New York Times and Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts alleges dirty details on Auburn’s football program. Apparently the program changed players’ grades to secure eligibility, offered money to potential NFL draft picks so they would return for their senior seasons, and violated NCAA recruiting rules under former coach Gene Chizik.

According to three former Auburn players, as many as nine players had their grades changed before Auburn’s 2011 BCS National Championship victory.

Former defensive lineman Mike Blanc was quoted in the report as saying, “We thought we would be without (running back) Mike Dyer because he said he was one of them, but Auburn found a way to make those dudes eligible.” In a Wednesday interview with AL.com, he denied making that statement.

Interestingly, Mike McNeil, another former Auburn player, named Gator head coach Will Muschamp as a monetary provider on at least one occasion, giving “about $400” to McNeil. Muschamp was on the Auburn staff at the time of the allegation made by McNeil.